Automobile top and operating means therefor



Jl me 23, 1936. E. DEUTSCH ET AL ,0 5,34

AUTOMOBILE TOP AND OPERATING MEANS THEREFOR Filed March '14, 1952 4 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTORS I Emeryfleurs ch 0 Eugene WCHIEJ' I k o. ATTORNEYS J1me 1936- E. DEUTSCH ET AL 2,045,344

AUTOMOBILE TOP AND OPERATING MEANS THEREFOR Filed March 14, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 R lNVENTORS WITNESSES 'J .E 711 67 1 lie M1311 W Eugene Werwc 3 3. Z1 My 60.

( ATTORNEYS June 23, 1936. E. DEUTSCH ET AL AUTOMOBILE TOP AND OPERATING MEANS THEREFOR Filed March 14, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 3 Tnww v N O V T mfle A Z mu E Y B s QTQ E June 23, 1936. E. DEUTSCH ET AL 2,045,344

AUTOMOBILE TOP AND OPERATING MEANS THEREFOR Filed March 14, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 W59 i f PC) will! INVENTORS WITNESSES Emery Deui'sch/ Eugene Werner @1W r r ATTORN EY Patented .iune 23, 1936' siren stares AUTOMOBILE TOP AND OPERATING MEANS THEREFOR Emery Deutsch, Richmond Hill, and Eugene Werner, New York, N. Y., assignors, by direct and mesne assignments, of twenty-two and one-half per cent to Arnold Deutsch, Richmond Hill, N. Y., twenty-two and one-half per cent to Louis Werner, and ten per cent to Maurice Brown, both of New York, N. Y.

Application March 14, 1932, Serial No. 598,814

4 Claims.

An object of the invention is to provide an automobile top which may be conveniently adjusted to completely cover the body, or, if desired, to partially cover the body. and thereby provide a Victoria or cabriolet.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automobile top having at each side of its rear portion a rigid enclosing frame adjustable relatively to the body of the automobile, each of the rigid enclosing frames having a, glass window which is protected by the enclosing frame.

Still another object of the invention is to provide the top with telescopic members which carry top member supporting bows, there being resilient means for holding the telescopic members in positions relatively to each other, and there being additional means for moving the telescopic members relatively to each other from the said positions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a top for automobiles and other vehicles having rear portions pivoted at the sides of the body, there being telescopic members which telescope with each other and with the said rear portions and there being means for moving the telescopic members relatively to each other and to the rear portions and there being additional means for moving the said rear portions on horizontal pivots which support the rear'portions.

The invention also comprehends a power means under the control of the driver for operat ing the means for moving the telescopic members relatively to each other and also to operate the means for moving the rear portions of the top on their pivots.

Additional objects of the invention will appear in the following specification in which the preferred form of the invention is described.

In the drawings similar reference characters refer to similar parts in all the views, of which Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of an automobile body provided with the top which is the subject matter of this application,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the comtruction of the telescopic members and also the rear side members'which carry the telescopic members,

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is an inverted enlarged plan view' showing one of the members provided for securing the top to the windshield,

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating the automobile top and showing diagrammatically the operating means therefor,

Figure '7 is a view showing in side elevation an automobile provided with the improved top arranged to provide a cabriolet, 5

Figure 8 is a similar view, but with the top arranged to provide a Victoria,

Figure 9 is a sectional view on the line 9-9 of Figure 10,

Figure 10 is a plan view illustrating the electric 10 motor and the means driven thereby for operating the automobile top,

Figure 11 is a sectional view on the line ll-li of Figure 10,

Figure 12 is a diagrammatic view illustrating 15 a reversingswitch for the electric motor, and

Figure 13 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating one of the mountings on the windshield for engagement by the forward section of the automobile top.

By referring to the drawings it will be seen that to each side of the body of the automobile there is pivoted at IS a side frame member l6, each of these side frame members It having a forward side member ll, a rear side member i8, 25 a top member I9 and a bottom member 20, it being understood by referring to the drawings, and particularly Figures 1, 2 and 6, that the top member I9 is disposed approximately at right angles relatively to the forward side member I! 30 and that the rear side member i8 is disposed approximately parallel with the forward side member I! but does not extend down as far as the said forward side member ll. Therefore, the bottom member 20 is disposed obliquely upwardly. As 35 has been stated, one of these side frame members i6 is pivoted at each side of the automobile body and the top member is of each of the side frame members is tubular. The rear side member 88 is tubular, as is also the bottom member 20. 40

Preferably the forward side member E7 is like wise tubular. The members ll, i8, i9 and 2B of each of the side frame members it provide a rigid enclosing frame for protecting a glass win dow 2! which, as shown in Figure l, is mounted 46 within each of the said side frames 86, the glass window 2! being protected by the members of the side frames which enclose the glass windows z I.

As'will best be seen by referring to Figure 6 50 ofthe drawings, there are two bows 22 and 23 which connect the tops of the side frames Hi, there being also an additional how 24 which connects the rear of the said side frames. The top members it of the side frames it, together with 58 their bows 22 and 23, cooperate with members which telescope with each other and also with the top members l9 of the side frames |6 to support the usual flexible top 25 of an automobile."

As shown in Figure 2, a telescopic member 26 is disposed in each of the tubular top members l9 of the side frames l6, a telescopic member 21 is disposed in each of the telescopic members 26 and a telescopic member 28 is disposed in each of the telescopic members 21. Each of the telescopic members 26, 21 and 28 has at its rear a head 29 provided with an aperture 38, a spring 3| being disposed between a head 32 at the rear of each of the top members l9 and the head at the rear of each of the telescopic members 26, a spring 33 being disposed between the rear of the head 29 on each of the telescopic members 21 and the heads 29 on the telescopic members 26, a spring 34 being disposed between the'head 29 on each of the telescopic members 21 and the head 29 on each of the telescopic members 28, a

spring 35 being disposed between the head 29 on each of the telescopic members 28 and a head 36 having an aperture on each of the front members 31 of the top. A cord 38 is disposed in the telescopic members at each side of the top and this cord 38 is secured to the front member 31, as illustrated in Figure 2. Each cord at the rear passes around a pulley 39 and then downwardly in one of the rear side members l8, then around another pulley 48 and then forwardly and around a pulley 4| to one of the drums 42. It will be understood that each of the two cords or cables 38 will be mounted in the manner described and that each cord or cable 38 will pass to-one of the two drums 42, as shown in Figure 10.

As shown in the drawings, each of the side frames |6 has an arm 43 extending rearwardly from its pivot l5, a cord or cable 44 being secured on each of which one of the cords or cables 44 is adapted to be wound.

As has been stated, there are two bows 22 and 23 which connect the top members l9 of the side frame l6. There is a bow 58 connecting the telescopic members 26, there is a bow 5| connecting the telescopic members 21, and there is a bow 52 connecting the telescopic members 28. Thetop member 25 is secured to the peak member 53 secured to the front member 31 and the telescopic member 28, the top member being also secured to the bows 58, 5|, 52, 22 and 23. This top member also passes around the bow 24, but it is not secured to the bow 24, the top member then extending downwardly at its sides and rear to the body where it is secured at 54. Secured to the underside of the peak 53 there are top securing members 55, each of these top securing members 55 having a slot 56 which is open in front and at its bottom and which has undercut grooves 51 for receiving the knobs 58 at the top of the windshield 59. The top securing members 55 are provided with threaded apertures 60 in which screws 6| thread, the screws 6| being provided for engaging and locking the knobs 58, illustrated in Figure 13, which will hold the top secured relatively to the windshield. There are guide members 58' at the knobs 58 which guide the top securing members 55, each of the guide members 58' having a portion 58" which is curvedrearwardly and downwardly for engaging a top securing member 55 between its shoulders 55' and each of the guide members 58 also having a vertically extending fin 58 which may be disposed 5 at the inner side of the portion 58 and be curved rearwardly and inwardly to engage a shoulder 55' on the top securing member 55. The upper edge of the fln 58 is also curved rearwardly and downwardly. It will, therefore, be seen that as the top 10 is moved forwardly under the influence of the springs 3|, 33, 34 and 35, the two top securing members 55 on the peak 53 will be directed by the portions 58 and the fins 58 of the guide members to position their slots 56 for receiving 15 the knobs 58.

With the automobile top positioned as illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings, it is possible to free the screws 6| and subsequently free the peak from the windshield, after which the cords 20 or cables 38 may be drawn in a manner, which will shortly be described, to bring the telescopic members rearwardly relatively to each other to position the top, as may be desired, spaced from the windshield 59, as illustrated in Figures 7 25 and 8, or in any other desired position. Should it be desired to lower the top completely, the cords or cables 38 are drawn to nestthe telescopic members within the top members l9 of the side frames l6, after which the cords or cables 44 are gradually freed to permit the rearward and downward rotation of the side frame I6 to the position shown by the dotted lines in Figure 1.

By referring to Figure 10 of the drawings, it will be seen that a motor frame 62 is provided which may be disposed in any desired position on the automobile chassis or the automobile body, this motor frame 62 serving to support a motor 63, the motor 63 having a shaft 64 with a. worm 65, the worm 65 meshing with a worm wheel 66 secured to a transverse shaft 61. Rotatably mounted on the shaft 61 there are worms 68 which are held in position on the shaft 61 by means of collars 69. These worms 68 mesh with worm wheels 10 and 1| secured to shafts 12 and 13 respectively. Pivoted at 14 at one side of the frame 62 there is a lever 15 and pivoted at 16 at the other side of the frame 62 there is a lever 11, these levers 15 and 11 being connected by a link 18. There are two clutch members 19 which are disposed one at each side of the frame 62 and on the shaft 61, the clutch members 19 being keyed to the shaft to rotate therewith and being adapted to operatively engage the clutch fingers 83 on the worms 68. Each of the clutch members 19 has an annular groove 8| in which a pin 82 on one of the levers 15 or 11 is disposed, so that the levers 15 and 11 serve to move the clutch members 19 into and out of engagement with 60 the fingers on the worms 68, it being understood that, when one of the clutch members 19 engages the fingers 89 at one side of the frame 62, the other clutch member 19 will be out of engagement with its companion fingers 80. It 65 will also be seen that each of the levers 15 and 11 has a brake shoe 83 for engaging a brake disc 84, one of these brake discs 84 being mounted on the shaft 12 and the other brake disc 84 being mounted on the shaft 13. It will also be seen that 70 the two drums 42 are mounted at opposite ends of the shaft 12 and that the two drums 49 are mounted on the opposite ends of the shaft 13.

The lever 15 is connected by a link 85 with an arm of a lever 86, which, as shown in the draw- 75 ings, may be pivoted at 81 in the front of the instrument board of the automobile. To one arm of this lever 86 there is articulated a link 88, the link passing rearwardly to a position where it may be conveniently reached by the driver of the automobile and having a head 89 by which it may be pushed inwardly and outwardly to move one of the levers i5 and Ti to a position where one of the clutch members it will engage the fingers to lock one of the worms $8 for rotating with the shaft 51. The other lever will be moved, so that its brake shoe 83 will engage the brake disc 83 so that, while one of the shafts if or 13 will be rotated by the means which have been described, the other of the shafts F2 or it will be locked against rotation. It will be seen that, with this construction, either of the shafts H2 or '13 may be driven, and that, when one of the shafts is driven, the other shaft will be locked to prevent its rotation.

, As will be seen by referring to Figure 12 of the drawings, any desired switching means may be provided for starting and stopping the motor 63 and that this switching means should be arranged to permit of the reversal of the motor, as suggested in Figure 12.

The switch at, as well as the knob 89 on the link 88, may be positioned within convenient reach of the driver of the automobile, so that when desired the driver may free the screws 66 from the knobs 58 and, by means of the knob 89, adjust the levers i5 and ii so that the drums t2 will be rotated to draw on the cords or cables 38 to telescope the members 28, 271 and 28 within the top members is of the side frame members it, to dispose the top of the automobile to serve the convenience of the occupants.

When it is desired to lower the top entirely, it will be understood that the telescopic members will all be withdrawn within the tubular top members is by drawing on the cord or cable 35 at the drums d2. When this has been done, the current to the motor may be shut ed at the switch 90, after which the knob 89 may be adjusted to connect the motor 53 with the drums til and the motor may be operated in the same direction by means of the switch 90, when the drums t9 through the motor 63 will slowly feed the cords or cables dd, permitting the side frame members it to rotate rearwardly and downwardly on their pivots l5 by means of gravity so that they will be housed in a recess Hill in the body, as illustrated by the dotted lines in Figure 1.

It will be understood, of course, that, when the top is to be raised, the motor will be reversed and the drums 49 will then draw on the cords or cables 44 to raise the side frame members to the positions illustrated in Figures 1 and 6, when the telescopic members may be moved forwardly under the influence of the springs by feeding the cords or cables 38 at the drums 42 by manipulating the switch 90 to still maintain the motor in reverse operation so that the drums 42 will also be reversely revolved as were the drums 49 during the raising of the side frames. The top may be applied to any type of vehicle body in which a collapsible top is used to provide a complete open or a partially open type of vehicle body.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a body, two rigid side frames pivoted one to each side of the body and forming enclosing frames for rear quarter windows, telescopic members which telescope with each other and with the side frames, bows secured to the telescopic members and to the side frames, means for moving the telescopic members relatively to each other and to the side frames, and means for moving the side frames on their pivots.

2. In combination with a body, two side frames each with tubular parts, the side frames being pivoted one at each side of the body, tubular telescopic members which telescope with each other andwith the tubular parts of the side frames, cords secured to certain of the tubular members and disposed in the tubular members and in the tubular parts of the side frames for moving the members relatively to each other and to the side frames, other cords secured to the side frames for rocking the side frames on their pivots, and selective power means for operating either set,of cords at will.

3. In combination with a body, two rigid side frames pivoted one to each side of the body and forming holders for rear quarter windows, telescopic members which telescope within each other and within the side frames, top supporting bows secured to the telescopic members and to the side frames, means for moving the telescopic members relatively to each other and to the side frames, and means for moving the side frames relatively to the pivot.

4. A collapsible top for vehicle bodies of the cabriolet or convertible coupe type including, a main top supporting bow having its ends pivotally connected to the body for folding, a rear quarter window including a rigid frame secured to the rear vertical face of said main top supporting bow and movable rearwardly and downwardly therewith when the top is collapsed, a

flexible top covering material extending rearwardly from the main top supporting bow and rearwardly from the window frame to the deck of the vehicle to close the space therebetween and secured to said window frame, and a recess in the body to the rear of said main bow into which said window is moved when said top is collapsed.

EMERY DE'UTSCH. EUGENE WERNER. 

